#; Mattia x Lucien

[conquestar]

@distopea​

The high-rise office was flooded with sunlight, brighter even thanks to the pristine white surfaces and furnishing.

There hung a certificate, a diploma, a portrait of Lucien and a single, perfectly trimmed house plant in a golden pot. The golden accents repeated tastefully around the space while Lucien—in the flesh—sat on his chair. He had pushed back from his desk and crossed his legs. The documents which he was browsing through at a steady, patient pace, were lowered on his thigh.

There was no sound, not a whiz of electricity or the ticking of a clock. Not even the wind dared to whistle against the wall-length windows. Only Lucien and his client.

After a pregnant pause, the papers finally whispered in Lucien's hands. He gently placed the files on the desk, straightening them with a few practised moves of his fingers, and shifted his eyes to the man.

Golden met grey.

Lucien smiled.

"Everything is in order. I have none but one humble question," he asked conversationally, and then, with genuine curiosity: "Zodiac—? Is that a derogatory term?"

[uneminuteparseconde]

Des concerts à Paris et autour

Septembre 12. No More + Plomb – Le Klub 12. Cabaret contemporain – Mona Bismarck American Center (gratuit) 13. Maulwürfe – Centre Barbara-FGO 13. Housewives + Les Hôpitaux + La Bordelle – La Mécanique ondulatoire 13/14. LCD Soundsystem – Olympia 14. Arnaud Rebotini + The Hacker + David Carretta – Rosa Bonheur (gratuit) 14. Nursery + Brandt + Fumo Nero + Rape & Revenge – La Pointe Lafayette 14. K-X-P + Acid Baby Jesus – La Station 14. Siege + Break Out + Pendrak + Cyclicweetos – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 15. Ko Shin Moon + Maud Octallinn – église Saint-Bernard de La Chapelle (gratuit) 15. Cocaine Piss + MSS FRNCE + Bracco – Espace B 15. Frustration + Dick Voodoo – La Station 15. Api Uiz + Darfour + We use Cookies – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 16. Helen Money + Mums + Irk + Fleuves noirs – Olympic café 16. Mykki Bianco + Cakes Da Killa + Gnučči – Trabendo 16. Iggy Pop + Cheveu & Groupe Doueh (Fête de l'humanité) – Parc Georges-Valbon (La Courneuve) 16. Aleksi Perälä + Acronym + Iori + Blndr – La Machine 16. H880 + Manni Dee + Murd + Scalamerya + Subjected – Docks Eiffel (Aubervilliers) 17. La Cabine : cinéconcert sur "Mimesis" + Hélas – La Station 17. Les Hôpitaux + Lingua Nada + Bitpart – Espace B 18. Bleib Modern + IV Horsemen – La Mécanique ondulatoire 19. Julien Desprez & Arnaud Rivière + Thomas Bonvalet & Jean-Luc Guionnet (fest. Maad in 93) – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 20. Widt + Diposition Matrix + Ghost Milkers + Blason – Treize 20. Spiral Stairs – Petit Bain 21. Ennio Morricone – Bercy Arena 21. Claire Bergerault + Mark Fell & Will Gurthrie (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 21. Rubin Steiner & Daniel Larrieu – Centre des Arts (Enghien-les-Bains) (gratuit) 22. Tomoko Sauvage + Onceim & Jon Tilbury + Hanna Hartman (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 21. Sylvain Courtoux + Joachim Montessuis + Lucien Suel – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 22. She Past Away + [Qual : ANNULÉ] + Ash Code – Petit Bain 22. First Hate – Supersonic 22. Elen Huynh + Matthias Puech & Antoine Madet + Design Default – Le Génie d'Alex 22. Lydia Lunch + Joachim Montessuis + Eric Andersen, Ramuntcho Matta, Michele Gazich & Inge Bakkenes + Frank Rynne  – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 22. Ron Morelli + Svengalisghost + Antenes + Behzad & Amarou + Rag Dabons + Ohes... – Concrete 22. UVB 76 + Dr Rubinstein + Théo Muller – La Machine 23. Jon Gibson's Ensemble + Eddie Prevost & John Tilbury + F Pierce Warnecke (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 23. Sheik Anorak + Spook – La Pointe Lafayette 23. Stephen O'Malley + France & Richard Francés – La Maroquinerie 23. [Martial Canterel : ANNULÉ] + Holygram & Adam Usi + Bootblacks – Le Klub 23. Stéphane Marin & Pali Meursault – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) 24. Jessica Moss + Besoin Dead + Gneiss Rock – Espace B 24. Jeroen Search + Regal + 14anger + Hemka + Öspiel + Kairos + Scry + Fred Hush – plage de Glazart 27. Sigur Ros – Grand Rex ||COMPLET|| 28. J. G. Thirlwell : "Cholera Nocebo" – Fondation des Etats-Unis (gratuit) 28/29. Sigur Ros – Grand Rex 29. Tim Hecker + Gas + Midori Takada + Prurient + Pan Daijing (Red Bull fest.) – Palais de Tokyo 29. The Black Angels + A Place to Bury Strangers – La Cigale 29. Scaffolder + None + Sathönay – Espace B 29. Rebeka Warrior + Front de crypte + Da-Sein + Godzilla Overkill – La Station 29. I-F + Zadig : "Kern Space Adventures" + Kassem Mosse + John Heckle + Hanna Haleta – Concrete 30. Ujjaya – librairie Publico 30. Lene Lovich – Gibus 30. Ufomammut + Usnea – La Boule noire 30. Zombie Zombie + Marie Davidson + Not Waving + Soft War (December b2b AZF) + Simon Cell b2b The Pilotwings + Voisky présente "Disconnections, music for Clouds" (Red Bull fest.) – La Marbrerie (Montreuil) 30. Nova Materia & Latetitia Sadier : "Du point de vue des pierres", d'après Tristan Garcia (Red Bull fest.) – Nouveau Théâtre de Montreuil 30. Function + Dasha Rush + Marcelus + Gëinst – Concrete

Octobre 01. Spectres + Pura Mania + Youth Avoiders + Pierre & Bastien – La Mécanique ondulatoire 01. Sparks – Gaîté lyrique 03. Kiku, Blixa Bargeld & Black Cracker – Centre culturel suisse 03. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Zénith ||COMPLET|| 04. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Zénith 04. Ben Frost + Julien Desprez + Walter Dean + Parquet (Biennale Nemo) – Le Trianon (gratuit sur résa) 04. Whispering Sons – Espace B 04. Melt Banana – Batofar 05. Jozef Van Wissem – Espace B 05. Marietta + En attendant Ana – Petit Bain 05. Anna Meredith + ToutEstBeau (Biennale Nemo) – théâtre de Vanves 06. Black Zone Myth Chant + Tomoko Sauvage + Felicia Atkinson + Carval Tarek – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 06. Rebekah + Endlec – La Machine 07. Charlemagne Palestine (Nuit blanche) – musée d'Art et d'Histoire du judaïsme (gratuit) 07. Beth Ditto – Bataclan 08. Arto Lindsay – La Bellevilloise 09. Project Pitchfork – Petit Bain 10. Futuroscope : cinéconcert sur des films du Bauhaus (fest. des cinémas différents) – Grand Action 10. Carbon Sink + Belmont Witch + Gauchoir + Sissifioul – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) (gratuit) 12. Peter Kernel & Their Wicked Orchestra + Tiny Feet + Adam H. – Petit Bain 12. Mlacoler Culkin + Rouge Gorge + Passenger of Shit + Tabatra$h (Serendip Lab fest.) – Les Nautes 13. Zëro + Heliogabale – Batofar 13. Part Chimp – La Mécanique ondulatoire 13. Shifted + Artefakt + Giorgio Gigli – Concrete 14. Forest Swords (Biennale Nemo) – Badaboum 14. Wardruna – La Cigale 14. Elsiane + Jad Wio – La Java 14. The Pilotwings + Goto80 + Constance Chlore + Bill Vortex + Tryphème + Franck Gérard + Sauk from Mélodies souterraines (Serendip Lab fest.) – Les caves Lechapelais 14. Bas Mooy + Clouds + Verset Zéro + Yan Kaylen + Paulie Jan + Terdjman – La Machine 14. Eloïse Descazes & Eric Chenaux + Le Fruit vert – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 14. Totorro + Faire + Julien Gasc – théâtre Antoine-Vitez (Ivry/Seine) 17. Unsane – Petit Bain 18. Soft Kill + Minab + Dead – Supersonic (gratuit) 18. Richard Francès & Konpyuta + Cycloptik + Sneakhead (Serendip Lab fest.) – La gare XP 19. Nosfell – Café de la danse 19. Robin Fox & Sean Baxter + Thomas Ankersmit (Biennale Nemo) – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 20. Gary Numan – Trabendo 20. Mattias Aguayo & The Desdemonas + La Mverte + Casse Gueule – La Maroquinerie 20. Otto Von Schirach + Distorsion tropicale + DJ Diamond 999 (Serendip Lab fest.) – Petit Bain 20. Bogdan Raczynski – Batofar 21. Jarboe + Father Murphy – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 21. Hypnobeat + Josh Cheon + LAAM + CIA débutante (Serendip Lab fest.) – L'Esplanade 23. Mogwai – Grand Rex 24. The Dream Syndicate – Centre Barbara FGO 25. Rinji Fukuoka & Michel Henritzi + Trou aux rats + Yves Botz & Bruno Fernandes + William Nurdin – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 26. N.M.O. + Aufgang (Biennale Nemo) – Hasard ludique 26. King Dude + The Ruins of Beverast + (D O L C H) – Petit Bain 26. Cent ans de solitude + The Dead Goldfish Ensemble + Club Dilletante (Serendip Lab fest.) – Gare XP 26. Sete Star Sept + Maria Bertel & Mariachi – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 27. The Breeders – Gaîté lyrique 27. MoE + Dead + Chafouin – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 27. Don Vito + La Confraternita del Purgatorio + Bob Cooper – La Comedia Michelet (Montreuil) 27. SNTS + W.LV.S (The Driver vs Electric Rescue) + Minimum Syndicat + Hemka – La Machine 27. Paula Temple + Blawan + Len Farki + Thurman b2b Julian M. + Avalon Emerson + SHDW & Obscure Shape + Madben + Maxime Dangles + Mark Höffen + Präri (Big Bang fest.) – Les Docks de Paris (Saint-Denis) 28. Peter Hook & The Light – Le Trianon 28. Jerusalem in my Heart + Oiseaux-Tempête, Mondkopf & G.W. Sok – Centre Barbara-FGO 28. Big Brave – Gare XP 28. Delacave + Ventre de Biche + Le Prince Harry – Gibus 28. BlackNox + Cocoon + Paradis Noir + Super Stoned (Biennale Nemo : Optical Sound) – Le Générateur (Gentilly) 28. Spacelex + Waterproof + Botine + Musique chienne (Serendip Lab fest.) – Wonder/Liebert (Bagnolet) 29. Omar Di Bongo + Raymond IV + Sacré numéro + Couloir Gang + OKO dj + Opaque (Serendip Lab fest.) – Wonder/Liebert (Bagnolet) 30. Boss Hog – La Maroquinerie

Novembre 02. The National + Ride + Chassol + This is the Kit + Moses Sumney + Mina Tindle + Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra + Kevin Morby (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 03. Jungle + Kamasi Washington + Polo & Pan + Isaac Delusion + Sylvan Esso + Cigarettes after Sex + Andy Shauf + HMLTD + Rejjie Snow + Tommy Genesis (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 03. The Residents : In Between Dreams – Centre Pompidou 03. Amelie Lens + Anetha + Präri – Rex Club 04. Run The Jewels +  Talaboman + Badbadnotgood + The Blaze + Bicep + Sigrid + Princess Nokia + Jacques + Loyle Carner + Tom Misch + The Black Madonna + Sônge (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 06. John Maus – La Maroquinerie ||COMPLET|| 07. Godspeed you! Black Emperor – Elysée Montmartre 07. Max Cooper – Gaîté lyrique 08. Zola Jesus – Point FMR 08. The Wedding Present plays "George Best" – Petit Bain 08. The Horrors – Trabendo 09. Annabelle Playe (Biennale Nemo) – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) 10. Red Zebra + Pour X raison – Supersonic (gratuit) 13. Liars – La Maroquinerie 14. Shannon Wright – Gaîté lyrique 14. BJ Nilsen + Thomas Tilly + Les acharnistes – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 15. Igorrr – La Maroquinerie 16. NSDOS + Watchin' with Milesdavisquintet ! (Biennale Nemo) – La Dynamo (Pantin) 16/17. Kristoff K.Roll : A l'ombre des ondes (fest. d'Automne) – La Pop 17. Trisomie 21 + The Saint-Cyr + Rendez-Vous – La Machine 17. Dälek – Batofar 17. Transglobal Underground feat. Natacha Atlas + Asgaya – Le Tamanoir (Gennevilliers) 18. Essaie pas + Nova Materia + Colombey – La Maroquinerie 18. Kristoff K.Roll : A l'ombre des ondes (fest. d'Automne) – La Pop 19. Ulver – La Machine 19. Agnostic Front + Bishops Green – Gibus 21. Sun Kil Moon – Gaîté lyrique 21. Metz + Decibelles + Drahla – Trabendo 21>24. Pierre-Yves Macé & Joris Lacoste (festival d'Automne) – Espace Pierre-Cardin 22>25. Carl Michael Von Hausswolf + Ensemble Ire + ErikM + Benjamin De la Fuente + Robert Piotrowicz + Annabelle Playe + Julien Ottavi + Jean Philippe Gross + Lancelot Hamelin + Alexis Forestier + Hugo Darcier + David Leon + Sylvain Levey + Remi Checchetto + Mariette Navarro le Werktank... (fest. Bruits blans) – Anis Gras (Arcueil) 23. Clan of Xymox + My Great Blue Cadillac – Bus Palladium 23. Modeselektor (dj) + Tijana T + Simo Cell – Rex Club 24. Emma Ruth Rundle – Espace B 24. Laibach – Trabendo 24. Arnold Dreyblatt + Prescott + Borja Flames (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 24. Zombie Zombie + Aufgang – Le Tamanoir (Gennevilliers) 25. Stranglers – La Cigale 25. Mount Kimbie – Trianon 25. Mark Lanegan – Café de la danse 25. Protomartyr – La Maroquinerie 25. Etienne Jaumet, Peter Kember & Céline Wadier : La Monte Young Tribute + Colleen + Accident du travail (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 25. Dynatron + Christine + Mlada Fronta – La Clef (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) 26. Quator Tana joue "Mishima" de Philip Glass – Collège des Bernardins 26. Ropoporose + Die!Die!Die! – Batofar 26. James Holden & The Animal Spirits + Groupshow (Andrew Pekler, Jan Jelinek & Hanno Leichtmann) + Paalma (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 27. Marilyn Manson – Bercy|Arena 28. Chapelier fou – Le 104 28. John Zorn & Abraxas + Autoryno + Garth Knox – New Morning 30. Simon Fisher Turner : The Picture from Darkness (Biennale Nemo : Optical Sound) – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) (gratuit)

Décembre 02. Frustration + Komplikations + Plomb – La Clef (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) 03. Depeche Mode – Bercy|Arena 15/16. Éléonore Auzou-Connes, Emma Liégeois & Romain Pageard jouent "Musiques de table" de Thierry De Mey – La Pop 08. Punish Yourself – La Maroquinerie 12. Zayk + Hyperculte – Centre culturel suisse 12. Snap + Martin Meissier : Field (Biennale Nemo : Optical Sound) – La Dynamo (Pantin) 15. Jessica93 – La Maroquinerie

2018

Janvier 30/31. Pierre-Yves Macé & Joris Lacoste (festival d'Automne) – L'Apostrophe (Cergy-Pontoise)

Février 03. Nils Frahms – Yoyo|Palais de Tokyo ||COMPLET|| 15. Franck Vigroux & Laurent Gaudé : "Le Chant des ombres" – L'Ecam (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre)

Mars 07/08. Ryuchi Sakamoto & Shiro Takatani (Dumb Type) : "Dis.Play" – Maison de la Culture du Japon 23. Pierre Henry + Anabelle Playe + John Chantler + Bill Orcutt + Anthony Child (Présences électronique) (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104 24. Else Marie Pade + :such: + Bellows + Phonophani + The Caretaker (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104 25. Jacques Lejeune + Chris Corsano + Ben Vida & Marina Rosenfeld + Mads Emil Nielsen + Gravetemple (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104

en gras : les derniers ajouts / in bold: the last news

[conquestar]

In contrast to Mattia's restlessness, Lucien sat calmly in the comfort of his padded white office chair, which he had custom-made for his height and size. It was almost like a luxurious leather throne with metal accessories that shone pale gold in the afternoon sun, perfectly matching the rest of Lucien's sleek, polished office. Against the pristine whiteness, Mattia's presence felt like a stain—or a riot personified—walking, fidgeting and itching to turn Lucien's ideal, perfectionist workspace into a battlefield.

Lucien could imagine the appeal Astra saw in the young man. Mattia was fiercely loyal and protective of his people. He was bold and driven. And his loyalty must have been one of the reasons why he was so valuable to Astra. That and—the way Lucien saw it—Mattia Lenio was a living, breathing proof of Astra's crushing victory over the Lenio family. He was a token and a forever reminder, and he was quite loud about it, too, which—in this case and Lucien's opinion—was a plus. He, too, would have kept a loyal dog like Mattia around if only to gaze at him as he ran around and did his bidding, knowing that he was the last of his kind and belonged solely to one master.

"You don't know, but Astra isn't here," Lucien pointed out calmly, unassumingly. The tone of his voice filled the space between them at an even pace, not too high or too low, not too loud or too quiet. It was just the right volume and perfect, conversational and non-judgmental intonation. 

Lucien only continued once Mattia was fully done with his rant. He set his eyes intently on the man, almost keeping him pinned to the seat with gaze alone.

"If Astra were so concerned about what he likes, he would be here in person, wouldn't he? But he isn't. You're here, and that ought to count for something. I'm not asking you to make any decisions behind Astra's back. I'm not here to judge you—in fact, I am here to do the exact opposite. I'm a lawyer, not a judge. The requested information will be used in your favour without any blind steps. I've told you, it would've been against my interest to proceed with the case behind your back."

Seeing that Mattia nearly finished his wine, Lucien stood up, walked to the in-built fridge and brought forth the bottle. He uncorked it with a plop and topped Mattia's glass as he continued:

 "Astra seems to hold you in higher regard than you do yourself. Wasn't it his decision you go alone? He clearly trusts that you won't speak a word out of line. What you've told me is enough for now; I won't pry for more because I can see you need some time to warm up—and to trust me."

Lucien canted his head and smiled. He stood tall above Mattia, but for once, he wasn't trying to make his presence threatening. He loomed in a way a great white oak would, protective and patient.

"Today is just our first sitting; I can't make any promises without drafting the approach. Chances are, Gambit and Requiem will be called to court as well. I would like to avoid dragging too many of your associates into it, but we should bring them forth first before the opposition finds them," Lucien explained.

"I have no interest in putting your friends in trouble. You will be the one providing a potential candidate to use as a scapegoat, not me. If you would like—if all of this is too much for you—I can meet up with Astra as well and present him with the plan. Or I can leave that to you, as I do trust that you're more than capable of passing the message on. If Astra doesn't like the proposed gamble, we'll focus on something else."

Even if he didn’t wish to admit it, that Lucien Lawless guy truly knew how to run his business. Zodiac felt that despite having his anger blooming all the time, he had the power to reduce it to something tamable. He wanted to leave the office, to say “fuck that” to all of those procedures that he found profoundly boring… But the calm tone of Lucien, and his clear explanations were enough for Zodiac to feel almost mesmerized. He wished that he had the brain capacity to be so conceive and clear on his side, because most of the time, he would bark his orders through a generous amount of insults. Their personalities were just dramatically clashing for sure. 

Zodiac hummed, as he didn’t like to answer all those questions. It reminded him of when he was a kid and he always had to justify his actions to his uncles. Why would he do that, and why would he punch that kid, and why wouldn’t he want to go with his brother… Oddly, he couldn’t muffle those waves of rage coming and going, as if he had to face a certain past he wasn’t ready to remember. Yet, for the sake of the Cleaners, he was ready to prove that he could be even more trustworthy than he was already. He wanted Astra to see that he was more than the stupid kid his uncle had always described to anyone who would listen to him. 

“Dunno if Astra will like that.” He said, his foot tapping the floor, as he had a hard time hiding his embarrassment. If this lawyer had been recommended to the organization, then it meant that he should be reliable, but trust issues were a common thing in the mafia world. He had never trusted anyone else but the two other commanders and his boss. Other than that, it was just diving in mysterious water. “But I get it… You want the whole picture and you want the necessary scapegoat just in case. For a lawyer, you like it risky, tsk.” He clicked his tongue, but his lips were curled into a sadistic little grin. He was at least more at ease with someone who seemed ruthless enough to follow hard paths rather than just sitting there and telling him that he was a delinquent with no morals and no salvation either. 

“Never had the pleasure of going through surgery, but santo figlio di puttana, if you need that to do your… Law stuff, whatever, then alright. I’ll do my best to answer, but I don’t like that. I don’t like to be judged, and I don’t like to blindly obey either. Even if you’re the law dude, it doesn’t mean I’ll spill all the Cleaners’ secrets for your piccolo intrattenimento.” 

He offered a long sigh before Lucien started to ask questions about Gambit and Requiem. Even more than before, he felt tense, immediately grabbing his glass of wine to finish it, as he wasn’t even allowed to smoke a cigarette in this immaculate place. He couldn’t take it and stood back up, walking in circles in the room like a lion trapped in a cage. “What about ‘em, ugh?” He first answered aggressively, before he eventually cleared his throat. With Astra, there was a clear line with everyone. But with Ezra and Kaizen, their relationship was highly different. He observed the furniture for a while, brushed and patted the top of the couch, skirted the desk, then came back to his spot. He was restless for sure. 

“Non lo so… They are my coworkers and family. We spend a lot of time together.” He explained, as he didn’t know to which extent Lucien needed to know things. “Why? They got problems? You’re gonna put them in trouble?!” He loomed over the desk, anger boiling even if he didn’t even have an answer yet. 

[conquestar]

❛ it’s safer to be feared, than loved. ❜ (from Zodiac)

&. 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Lucien's brows raised with mild surprise at the statement, almost as if Mattia announced he would have British cuisine instead of Italian—though he might be more shocked had the boy said that instead of this theatrical edgy comment based on nothing but youthful insecurity.

"Do you intend to die in that safe little bubble of yours?" Lucien challenged readily and adjusted the cloth napkin on his lap.

Their food was about to be served, and while the waiters brought forth various plates with meats, sauces and finely cooked colourful sides, he continued:

"Everything in nature is about the right balance. To be loved and to be feared are concepts that exist beside each other, not instead. The key to success is to understand your position in life and your constantly fluctuating role in society." Lucien held Mattia's gaze. "If you are to be loved, it only matters if it's by those above you, and if you are to be feared, it ought to be by people beneath you. It's often men who weren't loved by those above them that focus too much on imposing against those beneath them, and they corrupt and ruin themselves in the process. A man who only looks down is worth the same as the people he steps on."

Glancing to the side, Lucien tasted a sample of wine, dismissed it and chose another bottle.

"What do you do with fear?" He turned towards Mattia again. "Those who fear you will never understand you. They will shield their eyes from your presence and fail to recognise any greatness or glory in your character. It is those who love you that elevate you to a higher self. Those who love you—who truly devote their hearts to you—will be there for you when you need them. They will be a stepping stone to power."

"To shun love is a terribly useless thing to do—to reject love is almost to fear love, and by doing so, you're placing love above yourself. What is it you have to hide from love? I see nothing about you that isn't utterly worthy of adoration and admiration. And I cannot imagine your fearless, spirited and hot-headed person would find comfort in the safety of being feared when the adventure and risk of being loved provide just as much entertainment—if not more—as playing Russian Roulette."

The chosen bottle of wine arrived, just in time for Lucien to finish talking. He lifted the glass and raised it in a toast.

"Now, enough brooding, il mio tesoro, else you soil this wonderful dinner. Sei troppo giovane per cominciare a prenderti certi vizi."

[conquestar]

“So you… never like touching people, ugh?” Mattia asked, playing with his drink, his eyes sometimes drifting on Lucien’s silhouette sitting by his side. He wasn’t himself someone who liked to touch people, but it was clearly not matching the silverette and the distance he was putting with people. He didn’t know if he was actually so disgusted by the concept of touch, or if, as Mattia himself, he was just picky. Mattia probed his chin against the palm of his hand, quite unmannered compared to the perfect image of Lucien. Maybe that was why he was so dragged to him? A part of Lucien’s mystery was the reason why he was so driven in the first place. And well… He had a bit of booze in the system. Mattia bumped his knee with Lucien under the counter, testing the water.  

“Nemmeno con me?” He whispered in his native language, feeling far more at ease speaking in Italian rather than English when he was flustered. “No mi baci?” He slightly spun on his tool, sliding his fingers near Lucien’s hand, but without touching him. “Mi piacerebbe… Vorrei che mi baciassi.” He continued, his gaze looking at Lucien’s lips intensely.

@distopea

Lucien had spent enough time around humans to read all their tells. He learned behavioural patterns and distinguished between various personality types. Knowing people helped him predict their actions, understand their motives and recognize their needs.

Right now, Mattia Lenio had a great need for attention, and his vibrating presence beside Lucien felt like the flutter of a hummingbird's wings. His impatience and ire brushed against Lucien's skin, the side of his neck and then the knuckles of his hand where Mattia placed his. The boy was restless, eager and a secret third thing.

Calmly, Lucien's eyes fell on their not-so-connected hands. He didn't react but sensed the desire seeping from Mattia—the compelling to reach out, close the distance and feel Lucien's skin. Mattia's stubborn guard was lowered, as were his inhibitions, and Lucien understood that in order to muster the courage for such a gesture, Mattia needed the encouragement of alcohol.

They both had a few drinks, celebrating their first victory in court—the first of many to come. And under the guise of planning for the next, they had gone out.

Lucien's lips quirked into an entertained and compassionate smile. He let Mattia hover, curious what he would do—would he brave himself to close the distance? Would he wait? Would he lose grasp on his temporarily attained tenacity and withdraw?

When Mattia prevailed, Lucien rewarded him with an answer. "Per rispetto nei tuoi confronti, preferirei non discutere questioni private in pubblico. Lascia che ti accompagni a casa. Spiegherò in macchina," he said politely, informatively.

"Out of respect for you, I'd rather not discuss private matters in public. Let me take you home. I will explain in the car."

He turned on his barstool; his long legs shifted with poise and deliberately bumped into Mattia's. Lucien smiled, and in the next fluid and confident moment, he laid his palm over Mattia's hand. Both their skin was warm.

Gentler than before, Lucien whispered: "Let me drive you home, Mattia." His gaze sought Mattia's, and he held enduring eye contact.

Sparing not a glance to the bartender, Lucien reached into the inner pocket of his suit and placed a golden credit card on the counter. He slid it across, and his hold on Mattia's hand briefly tightened before he let go and stood up.

The bartender processed the payment and returned the card. Lucien accepted with a polite nod and gestured Mattia towards the exit.

"Astra trusts that we stay out of trouble, and I intend to honour that trust," he stated. Mattia was in no shape to drive, and Lucien wouldn't tolerate the boy taking a cab.

He opened the door of his white Rolls Royce for Mattia to get in���grumbling and all.

The engine purred, and the road ahead of them lit up.

Lucien drove for a few seconds, and when they exited the parking lot, he threw away his filter and explained: "Fucking in a back alley of a bar—no matter how high-end—is not how I conduct myself. If I am to court you, I will do so with all the adoration and respect you deserve." Lucien's eyes focused on the road, but on occasion, he glanced at Mattia to see his reaction.

"You're a wild one, I can tell. But I won't be the brick wall you crash against when you've been going with pedal-to-the-metal for too long. Sober up first. Tomorrow, I'll send you tickets to see the orchestra with me. Show up. We'll enjoy, and—at the end of the evening—I'll be delighted to kiss you if you still have me."

[uneminuteparseconde]

Des concerts à Paris et autour

Septembre 20. Widt + Diposition Matrix + Ghost Milkers + Blason – Treize 20. Spiral Stairs – Petit Bain 21. Hélas + Axel Larsen + Too Smooth Christ – La Station 21. Ennio Morricone – Bercy Arena 21. Claire Bergerault + Mark Fell & Will Gurthrie (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 21. Rubin Steiner & Daniel Larrieu – Centre des Arts (Enghien-les-Bains) (gratuit) 22. Tomoko Sauvage + Onceim & Jon Tilbury + Hanna Hartman (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 21. Sylvain Courtoux + Joachim Montessuis + Lucien Suel – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) (gratuit) 22. Drum Robonom + Vincent Epplay – L'espace d'en bas (gratuit) 22. She Past Away + [Qual : ANNULÉ] + Ash Code – Petit Bain 22. Vox Low + Christeene + Omar Di Bongo + Bajram Bili – La Station 22. Quattrophage – Plateforme 22. First Hate – Supersonic 22. Elen Huynh + Matthias Puech & Antoine Madet + Design Default – Le Génie d'Alex 22. Lydia Lunch + Joachim Montessuis + Eric Andersen, Ramuntcho Matta, Michele Gazich & Inge Bakkenes + Frank Rynne – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 22. Ron Morelli + Svengalisghost + Antenes + Behzad & Amarou + Rag Dabons + Ohes... – Concrete 22. UVB 76 + Dr Rubinstein + Théo Muller – La Machine 23. Olivier Coupille, Thomas Tilly & Thierry Madiot : "Dans la forêt de Tudor" – BPI|Centre Pompidou (gratuit) 23. Philippe Hallais (Low Jack) & Cyrus – The Community 23. Jon Gibson's Ensemble + Eddie Prevost & John Tilbury + F Pierce Warnecke (fest. Crak) – Eglise Saint-Merry 23. Sheik Anorak + Spook – La Pointe Lafayette 23. Stephen O'Malley + France & Richard Francés – La Maroquinerie 23. [Martial Canterel : ANNULÉ] + Holygram & Adam Usi + Bootblacks – Le Klub 23. Stéphane Marin & Pali Meursault – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) 23. Faire + Adil Hiani + Myako + Varoslav + Fragil + Pit Spector – Trabendo 24. Ark + The Driver + HBT + Society of Silence + Behzad & Amarou + Theo Muller – Trabendo 24. Jessica Moss + Besoin Dead + Gneiss Rock – Espace B 24. Jeroen Search + Regal + 14anger + Hemka + Öspiel + Kairos + Scry + Fred Hush – plage de Glazart 25. Fiasco + Duas Semi Colcheias Invertidas + Desflorestaçao – Pointe Lafayette 27. Michael Gira – Palais de Tokyo (gratuit sur résa) 27. Sigur Ros – Grand Rex ||COMPLET|| 28. J. G. Thirlwell : "Cholera Nocebo" – Fondation des Etats-Unis (gratuit) 28. Sylvain Chauveau – Balades sonores (gratuit) 28/29. Sigur Ros – Grand Rex 29. Tim Hecker + Gas + Midori Takada + Prurient + Pan Daijing (Red Bull fest.) – Palais de Tokyo 29. The Black Angels + A Place to Bury Strangers – La Cigale 29. Scaffolder + None + Sathönay – Espace B 29. Rebeka Warrior + Front de crypte + Da-Sein + Godzilla Overkill – La Station 29. I-F + Zadig : "Kern Space Adventures" + Kassem Mosse + John Heckle + Hanna Haleta – Concrete 30. Ujjaya – librairie Publico 30. Lene Lovich – Gibus 30. Ufomammut + Usnea – La Boule noire 30. Zombie Zombie + Marie Davidson + Not Waving + Soft War (December b2b AZF) + Simon Cell b2b The Pilotwings + Voisky présente "Disconnections, music for Clouds" (Red Bull fest.) – La Marbrerie (Montreuil) 30. Nova Materia & Latetitia Sadier : "Du point de vue des pierres", d'après Tristan Garcia (Red Bull fest.) – Nouveau Théâtre de Montreuil 30. Function + Dasha Rush + Marcelus + Gëinst – Concrete

Octobre 01. Spectres + Pura Mania + Youth Avoiders + Pierre & Bastien – La Mécanique ondulatoire 01. Sparks – Gaîté lyrique 01. Casual Gabberz + Nightcoregirl + Honey Bunny – Glazart 03. Kiku, Blixa Bargeld & Black Cracker – Centre culturel suisse 03. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Zénith ||COMPLET|| 04. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Zénith 04. Ben Frost + Julien Desprez + Walter Dean + Parquet (Biennale Nemo) – Le Trianon (gratuit sur résa) 04. Whispering Sons – Espace B 04. Melt Banana – Batofar 05. Jozef Van Wissem – Espace B 05. Marietta + En attendant Ana – Petit Bain 05. Anna Meredith + ToutEstBeau (Biennale Nemo) – théâtre de Vanves 06. Black Zone Myth Chant + Tomoko Sauvage + Felicia Atkinson + Carval Tarek – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 06. Rebekah + Endlec – La Machine 07. Charlemagne Palestine (Nuit blanche) – musée d'Art et d'Histoire du judaïsme (gratuit) 07. Children of the Light (Nuit blanche) – église Saint-Merry (gratuit) 07. Suzanne Kraft + Strange boutique + DK + Gilb'r (5 ans de Children of the Light (Nuit blanche) – Gaîté lyrique (gratuit) 07. Hommage à Pierre Henry (diff.) (Nuit blanche) – Cité de la musique (gratuit) 07. Lubomyr Melnyk, Bruce Brubaker & James McVinnie jouent Philip Glass, Terry Riley et John Cage (Nuit blanche) – Salle Boulez|Philharmonie (gratuit) 07. Arandel (Nuit blanche) – Musée de la Musique|Cité de la musique (gratuit) 07. Beth Ditto – Bataclan 08. Arto Lindsay – La Bellevilloise 09. Project Pitchfork – Petit Bain 10. Carbon Sink + Belmont Witch + Gauchoir + Sissifioul – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) (gratuit) 10. Futuroscope : cinéconcert sur des films du Bauhaus (fest. des cinémas différents) – Grand Action 12. Peter Kernel & Their Wicked Orchestra + Tiny Feet + Adam H. – Petit Bain 12. Mlacoler Culkin + Rouge Gorge + Passenger of Shit + Tabatra$h (Serendip Lab fest.) – Les Nautes 13. Zëro + Heliogabale – Batofar 13. Part Chimp – La Mécanique ondulatoire 13. Shifted + Artefakt + Giorgio Gigli – Concrete 14. Forest Swords (Biennale Nemo) – Badaboum 14. Wardruna – La Cigale 14. Elsiane + Jad Wio – La Java 14. The Pilotwings + Goto80 + Constance Chlore + Bill Vortex + Tryphème + Franck Gérard + Sauk from Mélodies souterraines (Serendip Lab fest.) – Les caves Lechapelais 14. Bas Mooy + Clouds + Verset Zéro + Yan Kaylen + Paulie Jan + Terdjman – La Machine 14. Eloïse Descazes & Eric Chenaux + Le Fruit vert – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 14. Totorro + Faire + Julien Gasc – théâtre Antoine-Vitez (Ivry/Seine) 15. Daikiri : cinéconcert sur "Epileptic Seizure Comparison" de Paul Sharits (fest. des cinémas différents) – cinéma Le Grand Action 17. Unsane + Pamplemousse – Petit Bain 18. Soft Kill + Minab + Dead – Supersonic (gratuit) 18. Richard Francès & Konpyuta + Cycloptik + Sneakhead (Serendip Lab fest.) – La gare XP 19. Nosfell – Café de la danse 19. Robin Fox & Sean Baxter + Thomas Ankersmit (Biennale Nemo) – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 20. Avenir + Affreux Beat – Le Zorba (gratuit) 20. Gary Numan – Trabendo 20. Mattias Aguayo & The Desdemonas + La Mverte + Casse Gueule – La Maroquinerie 20. Otto Von Schirach + Distorsion tropicale + DJ Diamond 999 (Serendip Lab fest.) – Petit Bain 20. Bogdan Raczynski – Batofar 21. Hypnobeat + Josh Cheon + LAAM + CIA débutante (Serendip Lab fest.) – L'Esplanade 21. Jarboe + Father Murphy – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 21. AZF + Von GDK + Waldman – Sacré club 21. Codex Empire + Pär Grindvik + Parfait + Setaoc Mass + Shed – Dock Eiffel (Aubervilliers) 23. Mogwai – Grand Rex 24. The Dream Syndicate – Centre Barbara FGO 25. Gazelle Twin + Vatican Shadow + Powell (Biennale Nemo) – Gaîté lyrique 25. Rinji Fukuoka & Michel Henritzi + Trou aux rats + Yves Botz & Bruno Fernandes + William Nurdin – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 26. N.M.O. + Aufgang (Biennale Nemo) – Hasard ludique 26. King Dude + The Ruins of Beverast + (D O L C H) – Petit Bain 26. Cent ans de solitude + The Dead Goldfish Ensemble + Club Dilletante (Serendip Lab fest.) – Gare XP 26. Sete Star Sept + Maria Bertel & Mariachi – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 26. Uriel Barthélémi & Mathieu Sanchez : We are Stellar (Biennale Nemo) – Le Générateur (Gentilly) 27. The Breeders – Gaîté lyrique 27. MoE + Dead + Chafouin – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 27. Don Vito + La Confraternita del Purgatorio + Bob Cooper – La Comedia Michelet (Montreuil) 27. SNTS + W.LV.S (The Driver vs Electric Rescue) + Minimum Syndicat + Hemka – La Machine 27. Paula Temple + Blawan + Len Farki + Thurman b2b Julian M. + Avalon Emerson + SHDW & Obscure Shape + Madben + Maxime Dangles + Mark Höffen + Präri (Big Bang fest.) – Les Docks de Paris (Saint-Denis) 28. Peter Hook & The Light – Le Trianon 28. Jerusalem in my Heart + Oiseaux-Tempête, Mondkopf & G.W. Sok – Centre Barbara-FGO 28. Big Brave – Gare XP 28. Delacave + Ventre de Biche + Le Prince Harry – Gibus 28. UVB76 + Omega Point + Vox Low... (fest. Rou(x)-teur) – Mains d'oeuvre (Saint-Ouen) 28. BlackNox + Cocoon + Paradis Noir + Super Stoned (Biennale Nemo : Optical Sound) – Le Générateur (Gentilly) 28. Spacelex + Waterproof + Botine + Musique chienne (Serendip Lab fest.) – Wonder/Liebert (Bagnolet) 29. Omar Di Bongo + Raymond IV + Sacré numéro + Couloir Gang + OKO dj + Opaque (Serendip Lab fest.) – Wonder/Liebert (Bagnolet) 30. Boss Hog – La Maroquinerie

Novembre 02. The National + Ride + Chassol + This is the Kit + Moses Sumney + Mina Tindle + Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra + Kevin Morby (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 03. Jungle + Kamasi Washington + Polo & Pan + Isaac Delusion + Sylvan Esso + Cigarettes after Sex + Andy Shauf + HMLTD + Rejjie Snow + Tommy Genesis (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 03. The Residents : In Between Dreams – Centre Pompidou 03. Amelie Lens + Anetha + Präri – Rex Club 04. Run The Jewels +  Talaboman + Badbadnotgood + The Blaze + Bicep + Sigrid + Princess Nokia + Jacques + Loyle Carner + Tom Misch + The Black Madonna + Sônge (Pitchfork fest.) – Grande Halle de La Villette 06. John Maus – La Maroquinerie ||COMPLET|| 07. Godspeed you! Black Emperor – Elysée Montmartre 07. Max Cooper (Biennale Nemo) – Gaîté lyrique 08. Zola Jesus – Point FMR 08. The Wedding Present plays "George Best" – Petit Bain 08. The Horrors – Trabendo 09. Annabelle Playe (Biennale Nemo) – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) 10. Red Zebra + Pour X raison – Supersonic (gratuit) 11. Keith Fullerton Whitman + Chris Wtason + Biosphere + Eliane Radigue (diff.) – Maison de la radio 13. Liars – La Maroquinerie 14. Shannon Wright – Gaîté lyrique 14. BJ Nilsen + Thomas Tilly + Les acharnistes – Instants chavirés (Montreuil) 15. Igorrr – La Maroquinerie 16. NSDOS + Watchin' with Milesdavisquintet ! (Biennale Nemo) – La Dynamo (Pantin) 16/17. Kristoff K.Roll : A l'ombre des ondes (fest. d'Automne) – La Pop 17. Trisomie 21 + The Saint-Cyr + Rendez-Vous – La Machine 17. Dälek – Batofar 17. Transglobal Underground feat. Natacha Atlas + Asgaya – Le Tamanoir (Gennevilliers) 18. Mr D & The Fangs + Nick Grey & The Random – Supersonic (gratuit) 18. Essaie pas + Nova Materia + Colombey – La Maroquinerie 18. Kristoff K.Roll : A l'ombre des ondes (fest. d'Automne) – La Pop 19. Ulver – La Machine 19. Agnostic Front + Bishops Green – Gibus 19. Thurston Moore – Café de la danse 21. Sun Kil Moon – Gaîté lyrique 21. Metz + Decibelles + Drahla – Trabendo 21>24. Pierre-Yves Macé & Joris Lacoste (festival d'Automne) – Espace Pierre-Cardin 22. Annabelle Playe & Hugo Darcier + Robert Piotrowicz + Floris Vanhoof (fest. Bruits blancs/Biennale Nemo) – Anis Gras (Arcueil) 23. Carl Michael Von Hausswolf + Julien Ottavi + Jean Philippe Gross (fest. Bruits blancs/Biennale Nemo) – La Muse en circuit (Alfortville) 24. Ensemble Ire (Kasper Toeplitz & Franck Vigroux) + ErikM + Benjamin De la Fuente (fest. Bruits blancs) – Anis Gras (Arcueil) 23. Sophia + Dead Horse One – Espace B 23. Clan of Xymox + My Great Blue Cadillac – Bus Palladium 23. Modeselektor (dj) + Tijana T + Simo Cell – Rex Club 24. Emma Ruth Rundle – Espace B 24. Laibach – Trabendo 24. Arnold Dreyblatt + Prescott + Borja Flames (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 24. Zombie Zombie + Aufgang – Le Tamanoir (Gennevilliers) 25. Stranglers – La Cigale 25. Mount Kimbie – Trianon 25. Mark Lanegan – Café de la danse 25. Protomartyr – La Maroquinerie 25. Etienne Jaumet, Peter Kember & Céline Wadier : La Monte Young Tribute + Colleen + Accident du travail (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 25. Dynatron + Christine + Mlada Fronta – La Clef (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) 25. Phase fatale & Silent Servant – La Machine 26. Quator Tana joue "Mishima" de Philip Glass – Collège des Bernardins 26. Ropoporose + Die!Die!Die! – Batofar 26. James Holden & The Animal Spirits + Groupshow (Andrew Pekler, Jan Jelinek & Hanno Leichtmann) + Paalma (BBMix fest.) – Carré Bellefeuille (Boulogne-Billancourt) 27. Marilyn Manson – Bercy|Arena 28. Chapelier fou – Le 104 28. John Zorn & Abraxas + Autoryno + Garth Knox – New Morning 28. Totorro + La Jungle – Badaboum 30. Simon Fisher Turner : The Picture from Darkness (Biennale Nemo : Optical Sound) – Le Cube (Issy-lès-Moulineaux) (gratuit)

Décembre 02. Frustration + Komplikations + Plomb – La Clef (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) 03. Depeche Mode – Bercy|Arena 08. Punish Yourself – La Maroquinerie 12. Zayk + Hyperculte – Centre culturel suisse 12. Snap + Martin Messier (Biennale Nemo) – La Dynamo (Pantin)  15. Jessica93 + Bryan's Magic Tears – La Maroquinerie 15. Oiseaux-Tempête – Paul B. (Massy) 15/16. Éléonore Auzou-Connes, Emma Liégeois & Romain Pageard jouent "Musiques de table" de Thierry De Mey – La Pop

2018

Janvier 23. Uriel Barthélémi (Biennale Nemo) – Le Générateur (Gentilly) 26. Alex Augier + Paul Jebanasam & Tarik Barri + Daniele Ghisi + Rune Clerup + Alexander Schubert (Biennale Nemo) – Cité de la musique|Philharmonie 30/31. Pierre-Yves Macé & Joris Lacoste (festival d'Automne) – L'Apostrophe (Cergy-Pontoise) 31. Doplereffekt & AntiVJ : "Entropy" (Biennale Nemo) – L'Avant-Seine (Colombes)

Février 02. Uriel Barthélémi, Gaspar Claus & Maude Trudet (Biennale Nemo) – Le Générateur (Gentilly) 03. Nils Frahms – Yoyo|Palais de Tokyo ||COMPLET|| 15. Franck Vigroux & Laurent Gaudé : "Le Chant des ombres" – L'Ecam (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre) 16. Radian + David Rothenberg & Scanner (Biennale Nemo) – La Dynamo (Pantin)

Mars 07/08. Ryuchi Sakamoto & Shiro Takatani (Dumb Type) : "Dis.Play" – Maison de la Culture du Japon 23. PurForm + TRDLX (Biennale Nemo) – Grande Halle de La Villette 23. Pierre Henry + Anabelle Playe + John Chantler + Bill Orcutt + Anthony Child (Présences électronique) (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104 24. Alva Noto & Anne-James Chaton : Alphabet (Biennale Nemo) – Grande Halle de La Villette 24. Else Marie Pade + :such: + Bellows + Phonophani + The Caretaker (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104 25. Jacques Lejeune + Chris Corsano + Ben Vida & Marina Rosenfeld + Mads Emil Nielsen + Gravetemple (Présences électronique) – Maison de la radio|Studio 104

en gras : les derniers ajouts / in bold: the last news